ArcNC.org

The Arc of North Carolina continues to work closely with families and community organizations to ensure all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are prioritized in the COVID-19 vaccine schedule. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) met with a group of leaders from I/DD organizations, including members of our staff, to discuss vaccine prioritization.

Our concerns were heard; however, NC DHHS made the decision to leave the current vaccine schedule in place.

The Arc of North Carolina has been advocating for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families for almost 70 years. We have developed strong partnerships with local, state, and federal organizations to ensure their issues are heard and addressed.

The Arc of North Carolina continues to receive emails and phone calls from parents and caregivers of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) who have been admitted to the hospital and are being denied access due to COVID restrictions.

The US Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) resolved a federal complaint filed by Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) and The Arc of North Carolina alleging that North Carolina’s scarce medical resource plan illegally deprioritized people with disabilities in the allocation of lifesaving care.

Click HERE to view our 2020 Annual Report. 

Over the past several weeks, you may have seen the news that several counties in North Carolina have voted locally to cut ties with Cardinal Innovations and are awaiting a decision from the state. Union, Cabarrus, and Stanly Counties have identified Partners Behavioral Health as the entity where their constituents would receive services. Forsyth County officials are considering a formal split as well but have not formally acted. Orange County has also voted to dissolve ties with Cardinal Innovations. Other counties in the Cardinal catchment area may be considering a change as well.